National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang said Sunday that the Macau Basic Law and the principle of “One Country, Two Systems” have become Macau’s “mainstream values”.
The speaker also urged Macau’s outgoing principal officials to continue contributing to society no matter what position they are in.
Zhang made the remarks during a half an hour meeting with Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On and other senior local officials at the Beijing Exhibition Centre.
Before attending the opening ceremony of an exhibition titled “Thriving Together – Introduction to the Achievements Exhibition for the 15th Anniversary of the Macau Special Administrative Region” which the local government is hosting at the centre, Zhang met Chui, the five policy secretaries and other principal officials designated for Chui’s next government and several senior officials who will be leaving their positions including Secretary for Administration and Justice Florinda Chan Lai Man and Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io. Legislative Assembly Ho Iat Seng and Court the Final Appeal (TUI) President Sam Hou Fai also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, Zhang said that the central government was “satisfied” with the achievements that Macau has made over the past 15 years.
“The [Macau] Basic Law and [the principle of] ‘One Country, Two Systems’ have permeated [Macau’s society] and have become the mainstream values in Macau’s society. They are precious,” Zhang said.
Addressing the meeting, Zhang praised the performance of the principal officials in the current government and expressed thanks for their contributions on behalf of the central government.
“The central government is satisfied with your [the principal officials of the current government] performance… after the establishment of the new Macau Special Administrative Region [MSAR] government [on December 20] some of you will have different positions. I absolutely believe that your affection for Macau and the nation will not change no matter which positions [you will be in]. I hope you will continue to support the chief executive and the MSAR government,” Zhang said.
Chui vowed that he and his new team would do their best to solve Macau’s social problems resulting from the changes over the last 15 years as well as problems left over by history.
He also said that the government would put a great deal of effort into diversifying the local economic structure and boosting regional co-cooperation.
After the meeting, Zhang, Vice President Li Yuanchao, State Councillor Yang Jiechi,Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council Director Wang Guangya, Chui, and Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Director Li Gang presided over the exhibition’s opening ceremony.
The exhibition opened to the public Sunday and will run until December 28. There are more than 280 photos on show which illustrate the achievements and changes in Macau since the handover.(macaunews/macaupost)
